Mandevilla plant named ‘Lancalifornia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Lancalifornia’, characterized by its compact plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla Sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LANCALIFORNIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla Sanderi andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lancalifornia’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Malause, France. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Mandevilla plants with numerousyellow-colored flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Malause, France on Oct. 21, 2008 of MandevillaSanderi ‘Rosea Foncé’, not patented, as the female, or seed parent withan unnamed selection of Mandevilla Sanderi, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selectedby the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inMalause, France in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Malause, France, since July, 2010has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Lancalifornia’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Lancalifornia’ as a new and distinctMandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Rosea Foncé’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Rosea Foncé’ in flower color as plants of ‘Rosea Foncé’have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of themale parent selection have rose pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of selections ofMandevilla Sanderi known to the Inventor, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Malause, France, plants of the new Mandevilladiffered from plants of selections of Mandevilla Sanderi known to theInventor primarily in flower color as plants of selections of MandevillaSanderi known to the Inventor had rose pink or white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Lancalifornia’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowerof ‘Lancalifornia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn in two-litercontainers in polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Malause, France andunder cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 8° C.to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 15° C. Plants weresix months old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla Sanderi ‘Lancalifornia’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla Sanderi ‘Rosea Foncé’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Mandevilla            Sanderi, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 23° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 23° C.            to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to            six weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to            eight weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; light yellowish white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact plant habit; upright to            outwardly spreading; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 51.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderately            freely branching habit with about five lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development. Length: About 32.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A tinged with close to            174C on upper side; older stems, close to 200C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            152A. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Between 137B and 146A; venation, close to 146D.        -   Petiole length.—About 6 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petiole texture, lower surface.—Densely pubescent.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged in axillary racemes; flowers star-shaped and face            mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about twelve            flowers developing per inflorescence and about 120 flowers            developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit with plants            begin to flower about six weeks after planting; plants            flower continuously from summer into the autumn in France.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, somewhat unpleasant.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and            five-parted. Diameter: About 10 cm. Depth (length): About            6.8 cm. Tube length: About 6.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Mid-section, close to 145A;            towards the apex and base, close to 143C.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl and fused at the base. Petal length: About            10.4 cm. Petal width: About 3.9 cm. Petal shape and            appearance: Roughly spatulate; lower 60% of the petal is            fused. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube            texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper            surface: Between 12A an 13A; throat, close to 17C, towards            the base of the throat, close to 144C. Petal, when opening,            lower surface: Between 13B and 14B; tube, close to 154C,            towards the base of the tube, close to 144C. Petal, fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 13B; throat, close to 17A to            17B, towards the base of the throat, close to 144C. Petal,            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 13B to 13C; tube,            close to 11B, towards the base of the tube, close to 144C.        -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl. Sepal length: About 1 mm. Sepal width: About            1 mm. Sepal shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex: Broadly acuminate.            Sepal base: Roughly truncate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.        -   Sepal color.—Immature and mature, upper surface: Close to            144C. Immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 144C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.            Color: Close to 144C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong. Color:            Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament            length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther            length: About 7 mm. Anther color: Close to 158A. Pollen            amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one.            Pistil length: About 3 cm. Style length: About 2.95 cm.            Style color: Close to 155A, towards the base, close to 157D.            Stigma shape: Flattened. Stigma color: Close to 155A. Ovary            color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be    hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named‘Lancalifornia’ as illustrated and described.